John Joseph Enneking

American, 1841 - 1916

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(1841-1916) John J. Enneking has been called "the bridge between the French and American schools of painting." He studied in Cincinnati and New York, and eventually in Boston with Samuel Gerry. Severely wounded in the Union Army during the Civil War, he returned to Boston in 1868 to study lithography. he studied in France with Leon Bonnat and Charles-Francois Daubigny and during his stay there from 1872 to 1876 he wass reputed to have worked with Monet. While his earlier work is characterized by precise realism, his later works vary greatly in style. After 1876, Enneking was noted for his facility with atmospheric effects, bespeaking the influence of Impressionism and the Barbizon school. As with the Impressionists, his landscapes suggest that time of day was of even greater importance to him than locale. His quiet autumnal landscapes capturing dusk and twilight are among his most profound paintings earning him a reputation as a master of atmospheric painting. Not surprisingly, Enneking enjoyed painting in Maine and the White Mountains. He exhibited widely from the 1880s until his death, becoming one of the most popular and financially successful painters in New England.Biography courtesy of Roger King Gallery of Fine Art,.